LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24142, 8 December 1941, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Efficient Cadet Unit For the second year in succession, the Imperial Daughters of the Empire Cup, for the most efficient cadet unit in the northern* military, district, has been won by the Rotorua High School. Four units took part, the others being those from the Mount Albert Grammar School, the Hamilton High School and the Whangarei High School. The cup was originally brought to New Zealand by a Dominion senior cadet contingent that won it in Canada in 1912. First-Aid Instruction Endeavours of the commandery of the Order of St. John to make the organisation the authorised body to give first-aid instruction to members of the Public Service have now been successful. Advice has been received by the Auckland association that, for the purpose of providing first-aid emergency personnel for public buildings, the Government has agreed to pay a tuition fee of 5s for each member of the Public Service who joins the Emergency Precautions Service and passes the ambulance first-aid course.

A Brave Mother That New Zealand women can be as courageous as the soldiers fighting overseas was exemplified at the Christmas party for children of servicemen, held in the Town Hall on Saturday. Rather than disappoint her two children who had looked forward to the occasion for many weeks, a mother took them there in spite of the fact that only a few hours earlier she had received word that her husband had been killed in action. Nor was this an isolated case. Also present was an aged grandmother with the child of her son-in-law, whose death had been reported that morning. An Empire Leader

"I have been struck by the universal tributes of admiration that are paid to the name of Field-Marshal Smuts," said Mr. Leslie Blackwell, of Johannesburg, broadcasting from Wellington last night. "It is obvious that he is considered as one of the great world leaders and put in the same category as Mr. Churchill and Mr. Roosevelt. I wish you could realise what an inspiration his leadership has .been to us in South Africa through this time of stress and struggle. He is now 71, but has strength and vigour which would be envied by men 20 years his junior. We hope and believe ho will be spared to lead us not only through the war but in tho period of reconstruction to follow."

Street Lighting Current Some consumers who have been asked to economise with electric current are inclined to criticise the authorities for not reducing the power of street lamps, especially where blackout shading is necessary. It was explained on Saturday that in most cases this was impracticable for several reasons. Street lighting circuits wore wired on the "series" principle with current-equalising apparatus, and were designed for of a given power. Low-power lamps of the special types required wore not obtainable in. Now Zealand at present, and many of the sockets now in use would not fit them. If street lamps were occasionally seen alight in tho daytime, it showed that testing was in progress. General Wavell's Offensive

The Imperial Army in the Middle East is now fighting battles over ground traversed almost exactly a year ago by General Sir Archibald Wavell's victorious army. The anniversary of .the opening of his attack falls to-morrow; it was at dawn on December 9, 1940, that the Imperial Forces advanced against Italian posts near Sidi Barrani. The story of the subsequent division and destruction of the Italian forces as they were then composed is well known, the offensive being one of the most rapid and materially successful in history, although when calls for assistance from Grecco had to be met, the depletion of the garrisons and supporting defences resulted a few months later in I the enemy recapturing most of the ground he had lost.